Eyeglass-bridge.



No. 744,317. PATENTED NOV.-17, 1903. W. H. ELY.

EYEGLASS BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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* UNITED STATES.

Patented November 17, 1903.

WILLIAM H. ELY, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

. EYEGLASS-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 744,317, dated November 1'7, 1903.

Application filed July 1, 1903. Serial No. 163,869. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM H. ELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyeglass-Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an eyeglass-bridge that has a flat spring-arch with spring-loops at the ends of the arch.

The object of the invention is to provide a bridge of fiat spring metal having an arch that will spring substantially horizontally when in use, with spring loops at the end of the arch that are coiled in substantially the same plane as the spring of the arch,so that the bridge will have strength and much flexibility and will.

present a light and attractive front appearance, the ends of the loops being carried below and back of the ends of the arch and loops and provided with notches in their edges which adapt them to be attached to the studs in common use in such manner that the arch and loops will be thrown forward of tically at right angles with the plane of the lenses.

This bridge has a forwardly-springing arch of fiat spring metal, loops that are coiled forwardly at the end of the arch in substantially the same plane that the bridge springs, and loop ends that are curved edgewise downwardly and rearwardly below and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the spring of the arch.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows, on greatly-enlarged scale, a bridge that embodies the invention attached to an ordinary pair of studs. Fig.2 shows a plan of the same bridge, and. Fig. 3 shows an edge view of the bridge. a

This bridge is formed to shape from a single piece of fiat narrow spring-metal ribbon.

The ends of the arch 1 are coiled around forwardly, so as 'to form loops 2, that lie in front of the ends of the arch in practically the same plane that the arch springs. The ends 3 of the loops are bent so that they curve edgewise rearwardlyanddownwardly beneath the loops and the ends of the arch.

In the" edge near the bottom of e'ach'loop end a notch by screws 5 in the mortises in the studs 6, that are attached to the lenses 7 by the studscrews 8 and frame-arms 9. The inner ends of the guard-fingers 10 are also secured in the mortises in the studs by the screws 5 in the usual way.

The flat spring-arch of this bridge springs forwardly when in use,'so as to appear but slightly curved when looked at from directly in front. This arch openswith a sidewise motion instead of an up-and-down motion, so that the lenses are always held centrally and in line with the eyes of the wearer, and because of this the guards are very widely separated when the glasses are put to use. The loops in front of the ends of the arch provide a desirable flexibility and allow the bridge to be used with various sizes and shapes of noses. These loops are bent in such manner that they become more tightly closed as the bridge is opened and the tension increases on the archthat is, the loops are closed and not opened when the bridge is sprung for 10- eating the glasses with which it is used; and asthe loops are coiled in substantially the same plane as the spring of the arch, a little I distance off they are hardly observable and distinguishable from the arch. The loop ends must stand with their edges toward the front in order to be secured to the common studs andto present but little surface when viewed from the front and they must be carried downwardly toward the rear, so that the arch and loops will project forwardly away from the nose of the wearer. This requires the ends of the loops to be bent edgewise.

It is desirable to have the bridge formed in a single piece and of flat stock. Wide stock cannot be readily bent edgewise, so that narrow stock must be used, and as narrow stock does not have sufficient width to allow being perforated for the attaching-screws notchesare made in the edges of the loop ends for the passage of the screws.

This bridge can be adjusted for a large number of different sizes and shapes of noses. It is inconspicuous and attractive in appearance. It is strong and durable and is very yielding. The method of attachment is firm because the screw acts on one edge only of the loop end and cramps the end in the mortise,

4. is cut. The notched loop ends are secured and the ends of the bridge are not as liable to be broken OK when notched as when perplane as the spring of the arch in front of the forated, for considerable metal is left oppoends, and with loop ends that curve rearsite the notches. The bridge is easily bent Wardly and downwardly from the inner sides to form and no special operation is required of the loops under the ends of the arch and [5 5 to enlarge the ends to provide means for atthe loops and standing in a plane at substantachment and it can be attached to the oomtially right angles to the plane of the arch,

mon studs of commerce. substantially as specified.

I claim as my invention WILLIAM H. ELY.

to metal and having a forwardly-springing arch HARRY R. WILLIAMS,

An eyeglass-bridge formed of fiat spring Witnesses: with loops coiled in substantially the same l ETHEL M. LOWE. 

